Case Number 23225

THE CONFESSION (2011)

The Charge

Opening Statement

Originally released as Hulu-exclusive webisodes, The Confession is a
polished piece of new media filmmaking. Finally, someone decided to step up and
challenge that "History of Dance" video.

Facts of the Case

The Confession begins with Kiefer Sutherland (24) entering a
Catholic church in New York City. He's there to confess to countless murders,
including one he has yet to commit. The priest in the confessional (played by
John Hurt, Alien) tries to talk him out of it, and the two debate
morality, judgement, and forgiveness.

The Evidence

Kiefer Sutherland's first real project after handing over his CTU-issued cell
phone and frayed lamp wire is a nifty experiment in online distribution and
compact storytelling. Released through Hulu in five-minute chunks, The
Confession is a tense acting exercise and a breezy morality play.

The trope of the Catholic church confessional dates back decades, and is an
oft-used tool for both character development and plot exposition -- just like a
character making the sign of the cross is supposed to inform the audience of
that person's possession of "spirituality." Cops, crooks, superheroes,
or pretty much any character that has to bear the weighty burden of judgment (on
either side) ends up going behind the confessional screen. Here, Sutherland, who
plays a nameless hitman, confronts Hurt, a nameless priest, in a battle of
wits.

If only the wits were...wittier. As an Internet serial, it's just deep
enough to feel smart or thought-provoking without making anyone uncomfortable.
In its current form -- cut together, with added footage, into a 90-minute movie
-- the moral arguments can be a little shallow. The hitman occasionally sounds
like a contrarian high school student challenging a priest at Sunday school, and
their arguments fail to build in any meaningful way. Thanks to a marginally
surprising twist, the moral dilemma is tossed aside in the third act and the
resolution presents itself with blunt efficiency.

Script aside, The Confession impresses on almost every level.
Sutherland and Hurt play off of each other wonderfully. Neither character is
particularly well-defined, but it isn't all that necessary. Sutherland might as
well be playing Jack Bauer; as soon as the film flashes back to him torturing
Michael Badalucco (The Practice) or wielding a silenced pistol, I start
to look for the ticking clock. John Hurt is arguably a little bit better, by
virtue of the changes his character goes through because of Sutherland's debate.
It's not Frost/Nixon or anything, but it's entertaining. Supporting these
two gentlemen is a small cast of capable actors, all of whom appear in the
hitman's flashbacks of violence. Combine all of this with a beautiful set, solid
cinematography, and an intense score by 24 composer Sean Callery, and you
have a web series that is more professional than some feature films.

The DVD not only looks and sounds great in standard definition, but comes
with a slew of supplements including the extra episodes, 10 behind-the-scenes
videos, and four featurettes. Sutherland was the driving force behind this
project, and it's fun to hear him sit down and talk about the challenge of
online filmmaking.

Closing Statement

If you ever wanted to see Jack Bauer argue with a priest, The
Confession is the web series for you. It may not be the deepest theological
argument, but for a segmented online thriller it's an entertaining piece of
pulp.